Exactech’s Knee Instrumentation System Wins IDEA Bronze

Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.P.H., M.Ed. • Mon, September 11th, 2017

Exactech, Inc. has announced that the new Truliant Knee System’s surgical instrumentation has been honored with bronze award in the 2017 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). The annual event is sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

As the company wrote in its August 21, 2017 news release, “The designs embody Exactech’s brand strategy and offer surgeons a reproducible and efficient experience through texturing and blue accents which indicate touch points for adjustability and functionality; elegant black background for high-contrast markings and easily identified grip locations; dials that offer tactile and auditory feedback with every click; textured surfaces on handles and specific points which provide a secure grip and accommodate mechanical and functional needs of the user.”

According to Laurent Angibaud, director of knee and CAS engineering at Exactech, “Merging customer input with solid design principles, our industrial design and technical engineers optimized the function and appearance of new instrumentation to improve user experience, which is core to our surgeon-focused culture. This award demonstrates Exactech’s commitment to developing solutions to address real clinical needs.”

Design team surgeon Sudheer Karlakki, FRCS (Orth) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom commented: “Truliant provides a harmonious balance of both functional improvements and format enhancements with a color scheme that aligns with the Exactech brand. An important design emphasis was placed on users being able to pick up any instrument and easily get a sense of its important working features. With its ergonomic and intuitive design intentions, surgeons and hospital staff should have an instant connection to the system; that is the real beauty of Truliant.”

Karlakki commented to OTW, “The main design challenge we faced was to incorporate simplicity and intuitiveness, while making the instruments versatile enough to adapt to complex situations and varying surgical philosophies. Our team of surgeons, engineers and technicians was passionate about designing the Truliant system for reproducible outcomes. I believe orthopaedic surgeons will be pleased with what we were able to achieve, including new intuitive and ergonomic instrumentation that provides accurate and predictable results for whichever approach the surgeon chooses to use.”

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Exactech: FDA Green Light to Market

Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.P.H., M.Ed. • Wed, May 4th, 2016

“Market away, ” says the FDA to Exactech, Inc. The company has officially received clearance from the regulatory body to market the Vantage Total Ankle to those with ankle arthritis.

“With the introduction of the Vantage Ankle, Exactech continues its precedent of innovation in the extremities market, which began with our industry-leading Equinoxe platform shoulder system, ” said Darin Johnson, vice president of marketing for extremities, in the April 21, 2016 news release. “The ankle market is in need of advances in total ankle technologies. We have had the pleasure of working with a world-class design team that includes surgeons who have dedicated their careers to treatment of the ankle. Together, we have developed an implant that we believe will be an improvement for patients who need a total ankle.”

“I am impressed with Exactech’s ability to convert concepts from their other successful total joint replacement systems, ” said Mark Easley, M.D., design team member and president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. “The company’s engineers have successfully turned our ideas into an exciting new treatment option for end-stage ankle arthritis. On behalf of the design team and engineers, I look forward to sharing the Vantage ankle with other surgeons so their patients may benefit from this meaningful new technology.”

As indicated in the news release, “Designed to conserve bone, the Vantage Total Ankle is an easy-to-use solution that allows for both stability and mobility in total ankle arthroplasty. The curved surface talar component is engineered to fit the anatomy of the diseased talus and restore the joint line, and both the curved talus and anatomic tibia designs are intended to improve implant stability and return anatomic kinematics. The system incorporates the signature press-fit bone cage design used in the Equinoxe shoulder system, developed to allow for initial and long-term fixation.”

Johnson told OTW, “The most significant challenge in designing an ankle to be bone conserving was the limited amount of exposure or space a surgeon has to work within the ankle, coupled with the lack of available biomechanical and anatomical data publicly available on the ankle.”

Exactech: First Surgery With Vantage Total Ankle System

Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.P.H., M.Ed. • Mon, November 21st, 2016

Exactech, Inc. has announced that Duke University surgeons have performed the first surgery using its new Vantage Total Ankle System.

Orthopedic surgeons Mark Easley, M.D., and James Nunley, M.D. have done the first case with the ankle implant in Durham, North Carolina. “The surgical team and I were pleased that the Vantage Total Ankle replacement went exactly according to plan, ” Dr. Easley said in the October 13, 2016 news release. “After several years of thoughtful development and design, the anatomic implants, practical instrumentation and relatively simple technique performed as they were designed. Based on proprietary anatomic data, the Exactech Vantage Total Ankle team of surgeons and engineers developed an innovative total ankle design that features both anatomic talar and tibial components.”

Dr. Easley also added, “The technique, with its favorable tibial and talar bone preparation which was clearly designed with minimal bone resection in mind, affords optimal support for the anatomically shaped implants. The Vantage Total Ankle has a reproducible and surgeon-friendly technique.”

Exactech Vice President of Extremities Marketing Darin Johnson said, “We had the privilege to design this product with some of the best thought leaders in the world who have dedicated their careers to the treatment of the ankle. Our team is proud to be a part of successfully improving the surgical outcome for one patient and laying the foundation for many, many more in the years to come. This marks a strategic expansion into the foot and ankle market where we will leverage Exactech’s founding principle of solving clinical challenges in collaboration with surgeons in order to improve the lives of patients. It is an exciting time.”

Exactech and a design team of esteemed surgeons designed the product, including: James Nunley, M.D.; James DeOrio, M.D.; and Mark Easley, M.D., of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; and Victor Valderrabano, M.D., Ph.D., of Swiss Ortho Center of Schmerzklinik Basel in Basel, Switzerland.

Dr. Nunley told OTW, “Although currently available ankle prostheses have shown increased longevity, they have not approached the results for hip and knee replacement. We believed that a prosthetic device should be more anatomically designed.

Exactech: First Clinical Use of New Products in Japan

Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.P.H., M.Ed. • Mon, July 24th, 2017

Exactech, Inc., based in Gainesville, Florida, has announced that the company has had the first clinical use of its recently approved shoulder, knee and hip replacement systems in Japan. These surgeries coincide with the series of new product introductions the company has reported in the U.S.

According to the June 22, 2017 company news release, “Exactech has gained regulatory approval to introduce additional products from each of its three major product segments to the Japanese market. The first Optetrak Logic CR knee system was implanted on April 6 at Taketa Medical Association Hospital in Oita. The Novation Crown Cup acetabular component debuted on April 26 in Ukubo City. The first Exactech total hip replacement surgery in Japan took place on May 16 at the Taketa Medical Association Hospital when a surgeon implanted the Alteon Tapered Wedge Stem along with the Crown Cup. The first Equinoxe Reverse Shoulder system was implanted June 5 at Sano Memorial Hospital.”

“Exactech has maintained direct distribution in Japan since 2008 with consistent growth. These new product introductions are important milestones for Exactech in one of our key global markets,” said Exactech Vice President of International Sales and Market Development Daniel Berdat. “We are pleased to expand our offerings with these important innovations to better serve surgeons and patients.”

Berdat, after hearing reports from the surgeons in Japan, told OTW, “We received very positive feedback from surgeons who performed these cases. They expressed satisfaction with many elements of the implant designs and found the new instrumentation to be sophisticated and easy to use.”

Exactech: Full Launch of Revision Systems and Expansion of Technologies

Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.P.H., M.Ed. • Fri, April 14th, 2017

Exactech, Inc., based in Gainesville, Florida, recently held the full market launch of the Optetrak Logic CC revision knee system; Alteon monobloc revision femoral stem; Equinoxe humeral reconstruction prosthesis; and the InterSpace tapered wedge hip spacer at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS).

According to the March 14, 2017 news release, highlights of Exactech’s latest innovations include:

The Equinoxe Humeral Reconstruction Prosthesis offers a unique and stable solution for complex and challenging shoulder arthroplasty cases with significant humeral bone loss. Also featured was the new Preserve Stem, a conservative treatment option designed for preserving humeral bone.

The Optetrak Logic CC Revision Knee System offers a comprehensive portfolio to help surgeons address challenging revision cases. Exactech’s redesigned, intuitive instrumentation for an efficient, streamlined surgical experience will also be showcased.

The InterSpace Tapered Wedge Hip Spacer and data behind InterSpace’s preformed spacer technology with 20 years of clinical experience will be showcased. The AcuDriver Automated Osteotome Handpiece for implant removal was featured in live demonstrations.

Exactech CEO David Petty told OTW, “Exactech is pleased to now be in full launch mode with our latest innovations that address complex and challenging cases for surgeons and improved outcomes for patients. Our AAOS line-up included the full launch of three revision systems and expanded advanced surgical technologies.”

“For instance, the Equinoxe Humeral Reconstruction Prosthesis is the latest addition to our fast-growing Equinoxe shoulder system. The platform modular stem for hemiarthroplasty, anatomic total shoulder and reverse total shoulder applications allows us to support patients who have few options for reconstruction due to significant humeral bone loss. It integrates with the entire Equinoxe shoulder system, giving the surgeon intra-operative flexibility. (The Equinoxe Humeral Reconstruction Prosthesis is not indicated for use with the reverse shoulder components in oncology applications.)”

“The Optetrak Logic CC Revision Knee System includes a high-performance portfolio of implants, instruments and computer-assisted surgery for reproducible results in revision procedures.

Exactech: Full Launch of Acapella Spacer System

Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.P.H., M.Ed. • Wed, June 29th, 2016

Exactech, Inc., a developer and producer of bone and joint restoration products and biologic materials for extremities, knee, hip and spine, announced the full launch of the new Acapella One Cervical Spacer System.

As indicated in the June 20, 2016 news release, “With the full launch of Acapella One, a cervical cage pre-assembled with integrated anchors, surgeons can restore disc height while providing integrated fixation to prevent device migration during anterior cervical spinal fusions. The Acapella One implants are available in two footprints, six heights and three sagittal profiles, including an anatomic domed design. The overall procedure is simplified by the unique design of the cage, which allows for single-step deployment of both the integrated anchors simultaneously into the vertebral endplates.”

"Exactech's product development team is dedicated to providing a simplified surgical technique for surgeons and the potential for reduced operative time for patients, " said company Vice President and General Manager of Spine and Biologics Bruce Thompson. “With the initial results from the pilot launch of the Acapella One system, we believe we will deliver on both of these goals."

Thompson told OTW, “The most exciting moment for us in preparation for the full launch was seeing the reaction of our pilot group of clinical evaluators during the initial surgeries. The surgical time was greatly reduced for them as well as the amount of impact needed compared to previous systems they had been using. All of this combined makes a big difference for surgeons, hospitals and patients; and we are excited to be able to expand the offering of this product.

“With more than 30 years dedicated to helping patients improve their quality of life, Exactech continues to expand their innovative spine product lines. Our products are specifically designed to improve patient outcomes and improve the surgeons' experiences in the operating room. Acapella One was developed with the goal of achieving both of these crucial objectives, and from the experience to date, we believe we have succeeded.”